Let me start by saying--- I REALLY ONLY LIKE TO RACE..... That being said I believe there are more Track day people then racers..

Some thoughts.

1. The track needs the addtional income as new racers are not coming in fast enough.2. Some of the track day people would see how the racing works and might give it a try.3. They could buy paddock spots that are not sold otherwise.4. They could run at break times---maybe with a seperate crew? Or racers---give them a discount on race fees???5. Combine one of the races groups and get rid of co-driver?6. Make it a TT format?7. Waiting for the economy or something else to bring attendance up is not a plan! I am not saying there are not other plans---this is just a thought.

Yes---I know there are a million ways to shoot this down... But 20 extra people a weekend at $100 brings us one step closer to re-paving or a better,bigger paddock..

Open spots, yes, lots of them. Earlier in the year I counted about 70 cars entered. Race #6 had 86 entries, minus about 10 cars entered for more than one race. Take out a few extra GLC entries, and it was about the same 70 cars.

From a Flagger's perspective, we wouldn't need (or I'll wager, get) fully staffed volunteer turn stations for non-racing sessions.The OTD's run well on a rather short staff, paid with WHRRI Bucks I believe.I'm not sure how to meld those 2 worlds together, especially since we would need a quick turnaround between the racing / HPDE sessions.The PCA races I've Flagged incorporated them into the schedule as just another Group, but all those 'working' the event were paid to be there.Maybe set them up as the last sessions of the day, and the additional staff not needing to be there could migrate to the turn 6 bleachers ???

I think you'd need more than one session to merit the cost and effort for the HPDE participants.

My 2 cents:

Add them to the practice day on Friday (give them a group)One guaranteed 20 - 30 minute session during each race dayGive them the unused time at the end of the race day (if there is any)Section off an area of the paddock (edge of swamp) for them to set up in for the entire day.

I don't know what it would mean for our insurance, but see if we can get it approved for licensed race drivers to be available to instruct on track. (ie... ride along with the HPDE during their session)

This gives them the potential for a lot of track time, lots of exposure to the racing scene, and a reason to stick around to watch.

This gives them the potential for a lot of track time, lots of exposure to the racing scene, and a reason to stick around to watch.

This fact was completely missed by me initially. This gives us a lot of potential to expose potential racers to a race weekend without being stuck as a spectator. It gets them intermixed with the races, crews, drivers, and could potentially make the jump into racing themselves seem much more do-able. To get started now you pretty much have to commit to driver's school and jump in with both feet. Now you have a chance to experience it before making the full commitment to a race car, trailer, tow vehicle, crew, etc.

If you have a gap in the schedule you could make the extra run group an "Exhibition Group" and run it around 1 P.M. (prime time). Could be HPDE on Saturday and something else on Sunday. Some out of the box ideas (like a track promoter might think of)...

1. Run Go-Karts (may require sound ordinance variation).2. Have a bicycle race qualifier and then run a big bicycle race after 6 P.M. (highlights the other ways the track is used).3. Soap Box Derby (on hilltop).4. Gravity Cars (used to run in California with the car design studios and in the U.K. Goodwood Festival of Speed).5. 250 cc. Motorcycles (may require sound ordinance variation).6. Formula SAE (perhaps on a shorter loop in the front straight around Gulch and making a right instead of a left at Skeethouse).7. Electric Car enduro (there is some SAE activity in this area).8. Legends Cars (they only ran once as a group at WHRRI in the 1990's, most likely will need waiver for sound ordinance. Usually good car count, might be good late in the year when their oval track season is over).9. Skip Barber Exhibition. I thought at one time they rented WHRRI. Opportunity for them to market in the Detroit area. 10. Car Club Exhibition on track (Porsche, Ferrari, Lotus, Fiat Abarth etc.).11. Spec Racer Ford - Festival. SRF's haven't run in numbers at WHRRI for awhile. An SRF only run-group might encourage a resurgence.12. Manufacturer/Dealer - Ride and Drive13. Quarter Midgets (not sure if this would work, even the short loop might be too long).14. Drifting Exhibition (would be a good tie-in with one of the Tire Stores).